Tobacco-stemming machine.



- G. F. EGKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. so, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Lgw

.N@ $2 @Eiy W 4;

G. F. EOKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. v

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LQSQJQQ G. F. BCKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLICIATION FILED DBO.30,1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETSBHEET 3.

G. RECKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

a v APPLIOATION FILED 11110.30, 1910. 11 3 12, I Patented July 9,1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LQZZI'7'65565:

Gag a fiy G. F. EGKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 1930.30, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Mar (5% G. F. ECKART. TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. so, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 BHEETBBHEET 6.

llmnlli punymlmumlnm i F. E'CKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

mm $3 $3 1 -w V O 0 xx b:

G. F. EOKART.

TOBAGCO STBMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.30, 1910. v 1 9g Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

G. F. ECKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED no. so, 1910.

Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

G. F. EGKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLIOAIION FILED DBO. so, 1910.

Patented July 9, 11912.

15 SHEETS-SHBET l0.

LQEQ TLQQO 11111111111111 1% i t 11 M5 llimlmur G. F. EGKART.

TOBAGGO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 30, 1910.

. Patented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

LGSQJQQQ bbfibzsses:

G. F. EOKART.

womcoo STEMMING mama.

, APPLICATION FILED DBO. 30, 1910. v a Lggg 1 9g, Eatented July 9, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET l2.

G. F. ECKART. TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

Pat 5mm July mm.

15 SHBET8SHE7ST l3.

G. F. EOKART. TOBAGOO STEMMING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 30, 1910.

Patanted July 9, 1912.

15 SHEBTSSHEET 14.

G. F. BGKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED DEO.30,'1910.

Patented July 9, 1912 15 SHEETS-SHEET 15.

being further amplified by tinrriin sma ts earner onric.

GEORGE E. ECKART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO. AUTOMATIC STEMMER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TOBACCO-STEMMING -MACHINE.

Specification of Letter-s Patent.

I Patented July 9, 1912.

Application filed December 30, 1910. Serial No. 600,197.

Illinois, have invented certain new and use- 1 ful Improvements in Tobacco-Stemming Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tobacco stemming machines.

It has for its principal object to provide means whereby the stem of a tobacco leaf will be completely withdrawn and severed fronrthe leaf proper throughout the length of the latter.

Theinvention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a machine suitably embodying the invention. Figure --lis a view in side clevation of a machine constructed in accordance Withmy invention. Figs. and -2- together constitute a view similar-to Fig. -1 on an enlarged scale. the same showing in dotted lines a number of parts omitted from illustration in Fig. -l-. Figs. -3- and 3- together constitute a plan view of the machine. Figs. -i and -l togethcr constitute a vertical longitudinal section of the machine taken on the line l4 of Fig. -3-. and -l2 of Fig. -3 Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. -6- is a plan section cf the machine taken on the line 6-(3 of; Fig. -1,. Fig. -7 is a fragmentary detail plan view partly in section showing the stem cleaning mechanisn'i employed. Fig. --8 is or vertical longitudinal section on the line i 8 of Fig. T-. Fig. is a view in elevationpartly in sec-' tion of one of the stem engaging disksemployed. Fig. 10- is a central section of the same on the line 10 10 of Fig. ,S)-.

Fig. llis a view similar to Fig. -9- showing a modified form of construction of stem engaging disk. Fig. l2- is a cen tral section of the same on; the line l2--l2 of Fig. -'l1. Fig. -l3- a fraganother position.

ployed for :uljust-ahly mounting mentary detail plan view of the means'employed for initially gripping the stems for the acconiplishment of the primary strip ping operation. Fig. li is a view 'partly in elevation and partly in section on the line l t-4 1 of Fig. 13-. Fig. -15 is a detail vertical transverse section on the Fig. -l(3- is a fragmentary detailplan view of the forward end of the gripping mechanism. the gripping jaws being removed. Fig. l7- is a fragn'icntary detail plan view of the gripping mechanism shown in Fig. 13-. the jawsbeing therein shown open preparatory to receiving-a stem therehctwcen. Fig. -l3-- is a view similar to Fig. --li showing the parts in Fig". l$l'-is a fragmentary detail view showing the means ema gear wheel on one of the shafts employed. o is a fragmentary detail longitudinal section on the line 20-20 of Fig. -l9. Fig. -;l.is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on the line 2l9l of Fig. l'; Fig. 22- is a detail perspective view showing a cam employed for positively opening the gripper jaws shown in Figs. l l. liand 1S. Fig. -Z3- is a detail view in section on an enlarged scale showing a knife removably mounted adjacent the strippers for severing the stems when desired. Fig. -24 is a fragmentary detail section on the line Qt-2i of Fig.

In stemming tobacco by hand it is customary to grasp the stem of the leaf between the tlunnb and the index finger of one hand and loosely engage said stem at its juncturev with the leaf between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. and by then maintaining the last-named hand rigid and drawing the stem with the other hand to separate the leaf from the stem throughout the entire length of said stem. The operation generally is not perforn'ied by a single pull on the stem relatively to the leaf but by a plurality of short pulls alternated with intervals of slight reverse movement so as to prevent the leaft'roni bum-hing to such an extent against the fingers of the rigid hand as to interfere with what may be termed the shearing action requisite to accomplish the severance along and in the closest possible proximity to the stem or middle rib of a leaf. constituting the extension of said stem.

l have ascertained by very careful observation and experiment that the bunching'of the leaf against what may be termed the shearing members prevents the latter from exercising their functions because a. considerable quantity of leaf is interposed between the shearing edge and that portion of the stem or rib along which the shearing operr part of the leaf from the stem, as last above described, a further pull on the stem is resisted to such a degree as to cause the latter to break. Thus only part of the stem and middle rib are removed from the leaf and to then complete the stemming requires more time and care than was originally the case. Furthermore, such tearing and breaking of the stem usually causes theouter end por-. tion of the leaf, which is always the last tobe se'veredfrom said stem or middle rib, to tear usually at some distance laterally from the stem or middle rib thus greatly deteriorating the value ofsaid leaf for purposes-of cigar manufacture in particular. The accumulation of so-called scrap, thatis, very small pieces of leaf, is very detrimental for the reason that the same can be used only in the manufacture of very cheap cigars or other cheap grades of bulk tobacco for pipe consumption and, therefore, in stemming it is requisite that the operation be eflected as efficiently as possible so. as to leave as little leaf as possible on the. stem, such small pieces being relatiyely difficult to remove and when removed constituting the so-called scrap above referred to.

In my present machine I-endeavor to fol low as closely as possible the stemming operation as most efficiently performed by hand, the object of the machine being, of course, to take theplace of hand labor at the usual smaller cost and to enable a very la-r e quantity of leaf to be uniformly and e ciently stemmed in a very short space of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the leaf may be partially stemmed to apredetermined extent and that portion of the-stem and rib thus severed from the leaf may he cut off, this being the preferable mode of operation in stemming tobacco for the manufacture of cigarettes and pipe tobacco.

The machine is further intended and designed to remove scrap from the stems after the primary stripping operation has been completed, and,'further, to remove from the machine at respectively different points, all leaves which may have escaped the stripping mechanism, the stripped leaves, the stems and the scraps.

The details of construction of the machine have been designed with a view to accomplishing the particular objects above set forth in' an efiicicnt manner.

Referring primarily to Fig. --5-- it will be'seen that upon the frame of the machine, which is constructed and designed to meet my needs, there are mounted two sets of shafts which will be hereinafter specifically identified by reference character, there being three shafts in each set. On each of said shafts of each set there is mounted a pulley 1, 2 and 3 respectively, over which a belt 4; is trained. Each of said belts 4 is adapted to be fed with leaves either mechanically or manually upon the portion thereof horizontally disposed between the pulleys '1 and 2. The leaves are adapted to be laid thereon so that the stems thereof project from the side. edge nearest adjacent the stripper disks 5, which will be hereinafter more fully described, so that the stems of said leaves may be engaged by said stripper disks-as said leaves are carried over the pulleys 2 and between the vertical portions of the belts 4 lying between the pulleys 2 and 3, the leaves being thus primarily car ried horizontally and then vertically for and during engagement with a second set of stripper disks 6 which will be hereinafter also more fully described. The said pulleys 1, 2 and 3 derive their movement through the train of the gearing which I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to Figs. 1 or 2- there is shown a drive shaft 7 driven from any suitable source of power by means of the pulley 8 thereon, there being a loose pulley 9 on said shaft for usual and obvious reasons. Said shaft 7 is jo-urnaled in hearings in the side plates of the frame and at the end opposite that carrying the pulleys 8 and 9 is equipped with a spur pinion 10 which meshes with a spur gear 11 on a shaft 12 extending parallel with saidshaft 7 and which is. also journaled in hearings in the side plates of the machine. The said shaft 12 is provided with a spur pinion 13 which meshes with an idle'gear 14, shown in dotted lines in Fig. -'2-, whichis suitably mountam a stud disposed upon one of the side plates of the machine. Meshing with said spur gear H is a spur gear 15 on a shaft l6 'journaled in hearings in the side plates of:

the machine. The said shaft 16 is provided at its other end. with a spur pinion 15 which mesh s with a spur gear l7 on a shaft 18 also iournaled in hearings in the side plates of the machine. The said spur gear 1? meshes with a spur gear it! on a shaft 20. also jcurnaled in bearings in the side plates of. the machine. The latter carries a miter gear 91 between its ends which meshes with the miter gear on the vertical shaft :25 journaled in bearings suitably supported on the frame of the machine. The said shaft 23 carries two bevel gears 24 and Q5 respectively, meshing with the bevel gears 26 and 27, respectively. on the shafts and, 29 raspectivelv. Each of he latter carries a spur gear 30 and 31 respectively, the former of which meshes with the spur gear 32 gm a shaft 33 and the latter of which meshes with a spur gear 34 on the shaft The said shafts 28 and 3?; carry th said pulleys 2 respectively, while the shafts 29 and 35 carry\ the pulleys respectively. The pulleys .1 are mounted upon the shafts 36 and 37 re.- r-pectively. the former of which is grared to the shafts 2S and :20 sprccket chain 38 trained over sprockets mounted upon said respective shafts, as

clcarl v shown in Fig. 'i The shaft 37 is similarly geared to theshatts 33 and 35 by means ot the sprocket chain 39. The

said sprocket chains 38 and 39 serve to positively gear the shafts E36 and 37 to the posi' lively driven shafts 2! 3?; and 35' thus relieving the said belts 4- from the performance of thesefunctions. the latter being thus purely feed-belts. ()u said shafts 2S and 33 respectively are mounted what I term thestrirmerdisks 5. each of the latter, as shown in Figs. and -'10. consisting of a hub l0 equipped at one end with an annular llange ll between which and a collar l2 threaded on said lmb -10 circular disks -l3 and it are disposed. the latter being parallel with each other. Projecting between said disks l3 and l-l; and secured therein by means of rivets 4-5 are. what may he termed, substantially quarter segments 46 of a circular plate constituting what I termed the disk 5. The said quarter segments :ltl' are separated from each other by spaces occupied by sliding members l? adapted to reciprt'cate in the slots thus formed between opposing edges of adjacent segments 4:6. The said sliding members i? are provided in their outer ends with Vsshaped recesses 48 the. walls of which are flush with the beveled corner portions 4-5) 'of the quarter seginents t3 when said members l7 aredisposed at the outer limits of their moieme'nt. The said quarter segments to and sliding members 47 together constitute a substanby means of the tlally clrcular disk provided at four points in its periphery with V-shapcd notches, the walls of which are n' ferably' disposed at right angles to each other and which are spaced equi-distantly from each Each of said members 47 is provided between its ends with a longitudinal slot 50 through which the rivet or pin 51 passes, the latter being mounted in said CllCllltll disks 43 and 1H and serving to permit said members 47 a limited reciprocal movement relatiycly to said disks i3 and it and said segments 16. The said members 47 are n'iaintained yieldingly at the outer limits of their movement by means of the springs 52 interposed between the inner ends of the same and the peripheral wall of the hub -10. The said strippers 5 disposed upon the shafts 28 and 3?) are arranged so that during rotation thereof the V-shaped recesses in the peripheries thereof will oppose each other to form primarily a recess in which the stem ofv a leaf is received and which subsequently closes to form an opening which gradually contracted as said opposing recesses approach the horizontal 'plane intersecting the axes of said shafts 2S and 33 becoming smallest when the deepest portions of'said recesses lie. in said plane. The opening thus formed is at this point in the rotati u of said disks barely large enough for the passage of the stem of the leaf so as to loosely engage the latter and permit it to be drawn in a direction parallel with the axes of said shafts 28 and 33 to strip the leaf from said stem. engaged in said opening should. be extraordinarily htavy or; there should be two or more stems simultaneously engaged therein the members 47 will yield so as'to exert a very light. pressure on said stems thereby enabling the same to be readily drawn in the aforesaid direction for the purpose of simultanerusly stripping all of the leaves therefrcm. As shown in Figs. ll and l2- the said stripper disksinay be modified in (i-c1istruction and produce substantially the same result. The disks 53 there shown consist each of a single circular plate provided with the rectangular V-shapcd hitches in its periphery and which is provided with a central opening from which recesses fiat extend radially outwardly. The hub 55 provided with an annular flange 56 is adapted to project through said central 58 threadt d (it said hub and which is fur 'ther provided with air annular flange 59 opposing the flange 5(3 of said hub. The springs (30 project into said recesses 5-l and hear at their opposite ends upon said annnlar flange 57 .and the outer or bottom other. i

to separating pressure-exerted by the releaves and the means for engaging the stems 64: having a central hollow cylindrical porwalls of said recesses 54. ltivcts (ll pass through said-opposed tlangts 5t and 59 and through openings (32 in said disk of larger diameter than the shanks of said rivets, the said disk being thus capable of movement in all directions radially of said hub and being thus capable of yielding ception in the opposed notches of two of said disks 58 of stems of unusual thickness or number. In order to prevent movement of said disk in the direct-ion longitudinally of its axis of rotation the said flanges 5t and 59 are equipped on their peripheries with collars G3 which project beyond the opposing faces of said flanges into contact with the opposite faces of the disk thus serviiig to radially guide the latter. The construction shown in Figs. 9 .and 10 is preferable to that shown in Figs. -11 and 12-, the latter bein however, cheaper.

Having described the means for feeding thereof between the strippers 5, I will proceed to describe the means whereby the stem of the leaves are engaged and drawn in a direction parallel with said shafts 28 and 33 so as to partially strip the leaves therefrom. The said means consists of, what I term, grippers. These are shown in detail in Figs. 13 to -18 inclusive. Longitudinally movable on the shafts, 28 and 83 is a plunger tion 65 in which-is a longitudinal slot 66. Beyond the forward end of and rigid with the latter are two parallel opposed cam membersji? having opposed parallel faces 68 and beveled forward end portions (it). At their inner ends said opposed parallel faces terminate. in beveled faces 70 forming the forward end walls of recesses 71 in the opposed faces of said members 67. The foregoing details are best shownin Fig. -1.t3-. The said plunger 64 is adapted to be reciprocated and to this end is connected by means of a projection't'Q extending downwardly from the rear end portion of the same with a longitudinally mo able plunger 73 carrying sleeves or bearings 74 which are supported and longitudinally movable on said shafts and 29. At its other end said plunger 73 is equipped with a projection carrying an anti-friction roller 75 which engages in the groove of a cam 76 mounted on the shaft 12. -The said plunger 73 is threaded at the end portion engaging said projection '72 and is equipped with a collar 77 and a nut 78 engaging opposite end-s of the sleeve 79 at the lower end of said projection 72, saidplunger being thus rendered adjustable,relatively to said sleeve 79 to determine the limits of movement of said plunger 64 relatively to the travel of a plunger 80. The latter .has'a cylindrical en'd portion o l which tits within the hollow cylindrical middle portion 5 of the plunger 64: and is connected by means of a pitman S2, )ivotally connected with the baring block 83 mounted upon said cylindrical portion 81 of said plunger and projecting through the slot (36 in the cylindrical portion (35 of the plunger 64, with a segment S-L mounted upon a rock shaft 85 suitably journaled in bearings in the side plate of the machine. The said pitman S2 is provided between its ends with a turn buckle 86 by means of which it may be adjusted in length.

segmentSl engages in a substantially radially disposed slot 87 in the latter thus permitting the stroke of said pitman 82 and. thereby that of the plunger to be varied at will. The said segment St is connectedwith a pitman SSengaging the-crank Sit on the shaft 16 heretofore referred to. The forward end portion of said plunger 80 is flat and substantially rectangular in cross-.

section and to the same there are pivotally secured, at one end each. two jaws 90 by means of the bolt 91. Said jaws 90 are equipped between their ends with projections 92 between which anti-friction rollers 93 are rotatably mounted, the latter being adapted to ride upon the opposed parallel faces (58 of the members 67 of .the plunger (34- and over the beveled faces (39 and mat the ends of said opposed parallel faces. The said jaws 90 are normally maintained separated by means of a helical compression spring 9t. interposed between the same ad jacent their pivotal connection with the plunger 80, said jaws being closed against the action of said spring by the engagement of the anti-friction rollers 9 with the said opposed parallel faces (58 of the members GT. The pins 95 on which the anti-friction roll- (as-93 are rotatably mounted project downwardly to points below the lower faces of the member 67 of said plunger G-t and in the path thereof two cam arms 96 are disposed, the latter extending parallel with the bevel faces 69 and serving by engagement with said pins 95 to insure positive opening of the jaws when the latter reach the forward limit of their movement. The position of said jaws 90 when opened preparatory to the re.- ception therebetwcen of stems of leaves to be stemmed is clearly shown in Fig. --l7- in full lines. and in dotted lines in said figure is shown the position of said jaws when closed, the said position being also shown in full lines in Figs. 13- and 1S-. Vhcn said jaws 90 are open, as shown in Fig. 17. the plunger 80 is disposed at the forward limit of its movement ren'iaining substantially in this position only during the brief interval necessary for the crank 89 to pass the horizontal plane of the axis about which it rotates. During this interval the The end por-- tion of said plunger 8'2 connected with said.

of the ,bin 08.

stripper disks will have brought the stcmof a leaf into the path of the free end portions of said jaws 00 and during the time that said leaf passes into and partly through the path of said free end portions the plunger (it is moved forward thereby obviously closing said jaws 90 and causing the latter to grip' the stem of the leaf therebetween. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the plunger (i-L the plunger 80 begins its rearward movement thereby drawing the stem through the opening between the strip per disks and stripping the leaf therefrom. The said plunger 6-1- remains at the forward limit of its movement while the plunger 80 completes its rearward movement thus bringing the anti-friction rollers opposite the recesses 71 whereupon the said spring 94 will cause said jaws to open .thus releasing the stem of the leaf. Immediately following the opening of the jaws 90 the plunger (it is caused to move relatively quickly to the rearward limit ofits movenunt thus again closing the jaws 90 while the plunger 80 returns to the forward limit of its movel'nent as shown in Fig. 17 whereupon the foregoing operation is repeated. It will be obvious that the rotation of the stripper disks must accord with the movements of the plungers 64 and 80 so that the stem of the leaf will be engaged between said jaws 00 at the right moment and the stripping operation quickly effected during the time that the opening between the stripper disks, through which the stem projects, is apprtnmhing its least arca'and must be con'ipleted immediately after it has attained its least area. Such adjustment is effected by the means illustrated in Figs. 19, -20, and -21. As shown in Fig. 20- the shaft 35, for example, is equipped with a collar 07 held rigid with said shaft by means Said collar is equipped with an annular flange00 provided with diametrically oppositely disposed elongated slots 100 through which set screws 101 pass,the latter entering threaded penings in the annular flange 102 of a sleeve 103, the latter being thus rigidly mounted 011 the shaft 35 but adjustable rotatably relatively thereto. The combined bevel gear 27 and spur gear 31, for example, shown in Fig. 2 as-being mounted upon the shafts 28 and 29, is splined upon said sleeve 103 in a Well-known manner. The said sleeve 103 is journaled in .a hearing, as shown'in said Fig. -20. Thus the. position of any one ofthe shafts 28, 20, 33 and 35 may be adjusted relatively to the gear wheel by means of which movement is imparted thereto and as said stripper disks are rigidly mounted on said shafts,

the latter will obviously be adjusted relatively to the gearing actuating the same thus enabling the exact relative, times of the meeting of. the notches of opposed disks to 'bacco bale.

' that an adjustment of said sleeve 103 relatively to the collars 97 will serve to any the time of presentation of stems to engagement by the gripping jaws 00 .without atl'ecting the times of actuation of the latter. The exact time of actuation of said gripping jaws 90 is determined exclusively by the cam and the turn buckle so and slot 87 in the segment S-l. By means of the turn buckle 80. slot 87 and segment 8% the exact moment of completion of the .closing movement of the gripping jaws 90 is determined without,however, affecting the time of beginning of the closingmovement thereof, the latter being incapable of variation by said adjusting means. The said ripping jaws DO'efl'ect only a. portion of the stripping operation by in'iparting a pull to the stem of the leaf for a distance equal substzm-tially to one-half more or less the total length of the leaf. Upon completion ofsaid movement the said gripping jaws 90 open and release the stem of the leaf which is thereup'on carried between the opposed vertical portions of the belts t into engaging relation to the second pair of stripper disks (3 mounted upon the shafts 29 and 35 respectively, and

which operate in exactly the same manner as said strippers 5. The speed of travel of the belts obviously coincides With the peripheral speed of said strippers (S and the latter are timed to op 'iose the per'i 'iheral recesses or notches therein to receive the stem of the partly stripped leaf as it is brought down by the belts. .As. soon as said stem and leaf are released from engagement with the strippers 5 and grippers 90 the stripped portion of .the leaf is free to expand or unroll itself sothat at the time of engagementof the stem with the second set of strippers,

the'hu'nching of the previously stripped portion of the leaf will have disappeared.

Tobzu'co'leaves vary in length to a great extent so that the total length of strokes necessary to stem the same must be equal. if done bya-single operation to the longest leaf possible to be encountered in the to-' The plunger 80has a given stroke which may be varied to some extent by means of the slot 87 of the segment 84: but inasmuch as the same is intended to be of less length-than the length of the leaves to' be stemmed, said stroke may be said to be fixed. To complete the stemming operation, however, the stem must be drawn a distance varying with the length of the leaf being stemmed. It is, therefore, necessary to pro vide a secondary stem-engaging mechanism for completing the stemming operation by which there is imparted to the stem, motion sufliciently long to insure complete severance of the same from the leaf. It is well -lmiown 

